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The Indian and Non-Indian are having a conversation about their lives.

Non-Indian: "I've got a shiny fancy car and I WORKED for it!"

Indian: "People assume I am poor. I got this Indian truck. Its rusty and the door is creaky."

Non-Indian: "I really worked HARD for what I've got. I know it must be "God's will."

Indian: "I work really hard but nothing ever seems to come of my efforts. I just remain poor, invisible and undervalued."

Non-Indian: "I've been able to keep and hold down jobs. I don't like people using the system."

Indian: "I've had my share of part time jobs often with no benefits and I've dealt with racism in many of my jobs. I can never seem to get an interview for a full time job."

Non-Indian: "My parents both graduated from college."

Indian: "My home life was really hard and there was a lot of abuse. I also got bullied in school so I dropped out in 11th grade."

Non-Indian: "I demand good customer service and I expect it."

Indian: "Usually I get treated like shit."

Non-Indian: "I don't understand why people just can't pull themselves up by their bootstraps?"

Indian: "I found boots at Goodwill but there were no straps."

Non-Indian: "I spent $300 this week at the grocery store and dropped off a bag of groceries at our church's food pantry. I feel it is good to help the "poor."

Indian: "My food stamp allotment was $170 for the month and I picked up a box of food at this local church because my food stamps couldn't cover everything."

Non-Indian: "I decided to go to this super progressive chocolate shop and treat
myself. I had an extra $40 bucks so I got three chocolate bars and 3
truffles. I was waited on right away and the customer service was
phenomenal."

Indian: "I decided to go treat myself and get a single $2 truffle from this fancy
bourgeoisie "fair trade, progressive and liberal," chocolate shop.
However I waited 15 minutes in line and was ignored while other well
dressed customers with credit cards were served before me. When I spoke out against the apparent injustice and discrimination I experienced the workers denied it."

Non-Indian: "I once went to a reservation for a "mission" trip with my church."

Indian: "I got angry at the people trying to "help" us. They brought a bible with them and were imposing their religious views on us."

Non-Indian: "In my past life I know I was Native American. I really love the culture."

Indian: "If you were Native American in your past life I wonder if you lived on a rez, worked at the tribal gas station for minimum wage,
dealt with constant racism and discrimination like I have my whole entire life. Please stop romanticizing who we are."